Happy International Day of Families! Our community project for today: name your favorite fragrance family, and wear one or more fragrances in that family, OR, make up your own fragrance family (like, say, wood pudding), define it for us, and wear the best example of that family.
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I'm in a wee drop (I don't have much left) of April Aromatics Ray of Light, which would certainly qualify for new wave summer colognes.
Reminder: 5/22 will be World Goth Day — get your goth on! (Need help? Here's the wikipedia page on Goth subculture.)
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2020, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is DSCF0772 [tripled] by Zengame at flickr; some rights reserved.
Apparently, I am up too early.
Commando with coffee at this moment, but I’m going to go through the perfume cabinet a little later, and select either an incense or a gourmand to wear today. Perhaps and incensy gourmand, or a gourmandish incense.
So. Glad. Friday.
Perhaps SB Short Fused? Enjoy your Friday!
That was an excellent recommendation – I am now awash in a cloud of cardamom and incense, and I smell fabulous.
Aaack, now I have to try Short Fused!
It’s really good. And Smell Bent makes a lot of other great scents, too.
It’s a real toss-up for my most beloved fragrance family between orientals and chypres, but in the end the traditional oakmoss-saturated chypre has to get the nod. Today I’m wearing 1960s-vintage Fête by Molyneux: brilliant citrusy-peachy top, indistinct florals in the middle, with a plush, crepuscular oakmoss-sandalwood from start to finish. If it’s a party, it’s a very sophisticated cocktail soirée, with a jazz combo and expensive hors d’oeuvres. They really don’t make them like this any more.
Jazz combo & expensive hors d’oeuvres sound incredibly appealing right now. Enjoy your Fete.
+1
Love the word “crepuscular” it feels so good in your mouth when you say it.
Yeah, but that second syllable is disturbing to me!
Oooh, I want to go to that party!
Oh I want to sniff that one.
Great description!
You describe this dilemma perfectly, and I couldn’t agree with you more.
The evening sounds divine. Great job.
Oh, you smell divine!
Chypres are great, and you smell wonderful
I’m with you on the toss-up between oriental and chypre fragrance families as a favorite Like you, vintage chypres are winning for me today, too. In spring, it’s all about galbanum, oakmoss, and patchouli for me. But I’m not familiar with Féte; it sounds wonderful -enjoy!
The great compromise between chypre and oriental is Dioressence. But I don’t feel that Dioressence would quite fit into your party. She’s a teeny bit louche. She might turn up, hang about the fringes, and then steal away with the saxophonist before the party is over.
I also adore both orientals (mostly the woody side) and chypres (mostly the green side), like they are two opposing forces in my personalty, and I don’t want them to mix. Fete sounds ah-mah- zing, maybe like Mitsouko’s more upbeat sister. Fete throws the jazz party, Mitsouko strolls the garden alone pining for her lost love. Or something.
I love how perfume conjures stories.
Shalimar
Ode a La Vanille sur la Route de Madagascar
A category all on its own.
I wish that the Ode a la Vanilles weren’t discontinued. You smell fab!
This perfume is the only compliment I get from Mr L
Also, I wanted to share that I went for a walk in Central Park today. My first time venturing west of 3rd avenue since February.
It rained this morning, so early it smelled like damp earth and lilacs. In the park, maybe it was linden blossoms I was smelling. I felt more relaxed there since it was more open and I could be alone and not worry about being around anyone being close to me.
That sounds beautiful. I’m glad you had such a great experience on your adventure!
yes, I am happy Mr L held down the fort with the kids so I can have some alone time.
How nice. Wet lilacs are a glorious smell.
Agreed! I was temped to pick some but I left them for others to enjoy..
What a glorious scent memory! I love lilacs and linden…
ST-
I can’t find the kohl eyeliner in blue. Do you see it on sale anywhere?
Alas, I searched Sephora, Strawberrynet, Ebay and Bloomingdales, and can only find the Noir. What a bummer!
The only color I can find that’s similar (in pencil form) is by Lancôme, Le Crayon Khôl Smoky Eyeliner in Black Lapis.
It’s a lovely darkened teal blue, the only difference between the two is the Guerlain has a light iridescence.
That sounds amazing!
Oh boy I wish I was sitting NEXT to you! I need to find one of you in ‘the wild’ and experience this.
brava
Grazie Grazie!
You can probably smell me from where you are, I sprayed more
I wish I was not upwind of you, I fear I will never smell the Vanillas
I woke up in Tigress Musk today. So, yes, part one of my favorite perfume family, the slutty perfume family. Part two is going to probably be an incense. Leaning to Lonestar Memories for my next full bottle purchase. Problem is that I keep shying away from pulling the trigger.
Lonestar Memories is fantastic. I’d love to own a bottle of it one day.
“Slutty” should be a perfume family, shouldn’t it? All the really raunchy orientals like Tabu and Obsession, for starters.
I have an essentially full bottle of Lonestar Memories (in the box, with a note from Andy Tauer!) that I almost never wear: it’s really really good, but I always choose something else for some reason, so I’ve put it on not more than ten times in the last decade. If you think a swap is possible (I live in Canada, so who knows), you should e-mail me at “username at gmail dot com”, because obviously you should have it in these unsettled times.
Gotta love raunchy orientals, maybe I should do a Crank the Stank week. Lol. All out raunch fest.
The original Montana Parfum de Peau, Bal a Versailles, Serge Lutens Muscs Khoublai Khan, Shocking Schiaparelli, YSL Kouros…. just stink up the joint, day after day. I’m in.
Hahaaaa, Crank the Stank! Best perfume family name ever!
Ah you live in Canada! I love you already…
I think raunchy slutty perfumes are a great category.
I think my Shalimar could fit into the category, or I should say, I want it to!
I live in the US, so I don’t know how much of a problem that will be. I know Andy isn’t able to ship to the US because of Covid 19.
I wonder how similar Lone Star Memories and Air du Desert Marocain are to one another?
or is it Le Maroc Pour Elle?
Just waking up, need more coffee!
Not similar at all for me.
I agree with cazaubon, not similar at ALL. All three are very different. I LOVE LADDM, like LSM, and loathe LMPE.
I loathe that one too!
Interesting. I adore Maroc and Lonestar, but don’t care for LADDM.
@pyramus, sorry that I didn’t see that you were writing to Dawn…
Another vote for Slutty perfumes (even though I hate the word slutty so much), let’s bring on the reek!
Definitely there for Slutty Perfumes! Bring on the Vivienne Westwood Boudoir and all the musks.
YO, I just tripped back in time to my youth!!
Who didn’t buy that perfume just for it’s name, much less the design???
Great one. I can smell it.
I don’t have a full bottle but two decants. It’s mostly Nahema’s really slutty sister.
Slutty perfumes is my favorite family, now. ???
Oh, the slutty perfume family is great, sometimes it’s the only thing that will do. Hyrax, Salome, Tabu, Rochas Femme. I wish I knew more but skank seems to be falling out of fashion again after a brief moment.
I would totally be up for crank the stank week! I’d like to see if I can get in trouble at work.
I wore a new sample of Musc Koublai Khan yesterday evening and the conquering lion has become a kitten. The kitten still smells really good, but not like it was.
Loving this thread! And yes, I prefer skank to clean in perfume.
Mon Guerlain EDP
I think I smell divine. Like Jalapeno said, honeyed lavender vanilla ice cream…mmmm….
And you would be correct!
Well, confession time. I know Donatella came and left, but she’ll be back.
I found a bottle of SL Cuir Mauresque yesterday at a 30% discount!! It’s in the new ugly black bottle, but I have been loving that perfume for so long, and it was just not available anywhere outside of a Bell Jar in gay Paris.
I’m hoping the perfume has not been reformulated, but we shall see. It’s a huge 3.4 oz bottle, so if anyone is hankering for some and want to swappity swap, hit me up. I went back to the site after I purchased it and it said “sold out,” so I guess they had a very limited number available…
Had two ridiculous conversations with
My recruiter and my mortgage holder yesterday that left me in a rare snit. Truthfully, I’m still a little snitty about it. It’s amazing how you have to get a bit ugly in order for people to understand you are NOT backing down .
Later, I’m making another batch of roasted root veggies. I bought more beets, Golden Beets, too! Also rutabagas, parsnips, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Plus I’m making another batch of banana bread.
Smell well y’all! I’m in Taklamakan today from a kind and generous NSTer. You know who you are?
Root veggies? Yum! I love roasted root vegetables.
I’m sorry you had two frustrating conversations yesterday. I hope today is much more pleasant.
Thanks- So far, so good!
I also have a couple of confessions pending with regards to old Serge Lutenses. Found a place that sold old “testers” and bought one that I knew exactly what it should smell like and it was the real, pre-reformulation deal. I may have gone back and dipped my toes in the waters a couple of times since… Watch this space, Donatella!
Oh nice! I’ve bought a couple testers in my time and they are an excellent way to save some dinero! Sometimes, dipping your toes can really pay off??
Sweet find! Congrats!
So sad that testers are not sold in Germany
Sorry about your phone frustrations, I had one of those today too. Had to use my bossiest voice which shouldn’t have been necessary. Your root veggies sound delicious.
Yes, bossy voice is how I should have explained it, rather than getting “ugly.” Although, when I use a bossy voice , I tend to feel ugly…??♀️
Boss on with your awesome self, Deva!
heh heh, when I feel “bad” about using “bossy” voice I try to think that’s just society falsely labeling normal behavior from women and girls in an unnecessarily negative way.
Your bossy voice is beautiful, because it is you standing up for yourself!
nice steal on the bottle ?
It actually was a great deal- I’m hoping it’s as I remembered it…??
‘Talamakan’ should be a word used for an official greeting. I LOVE that name!!! I would blind buy a bottle of that just for that reason.
It sounds like you needed a ‘Cuir’ to facilitate some happiness so I am happy for you.
Happy Friday.
Gimme leather! Taklamakan is right up there with “crepuscular” and “paroxysmal” ?
Congrats on the discounted Serge!
Thanks!
Oh, and I love your last photo on your insta!
I have no filter and strong opinions which equals trouble?
Sorry about the awful conversations yesterday. So frustrating to deal with folks who aren’t listening. Hopefully, today will be better!
Thanks! Time to move on next contract. These travel companies are really feeling the pinch, and are playing hardball with employees in order to stay afloat. This will probably be the new status quo, unfortunately.
I’ve had quite a few recruiters contact me lately, it seems they are so hungry for placements and I get it, I’m a former recruiter myself.
But my style has always been, if a candidate isn’t happy, they won’t stay – a waste of time/energy for everyone.
Congrats on the score, I love CM! And I love golden beets.
I’m elated?….sorry, I could not resist lol ???
LOL!
You knew I loved you!
Right back at you ?
Congrats ? you deserve a new bottle after all your frustrations
Sorry you had to go through that. Good for you, being a strong voice.
And, score! Gotta report on thoughts of your Serge.
Dear Donatella, please forgive the envy I feel towards Deva for her Cuir Mauresque score.
And the anger I feel towards Serge for jacking up his prices.
My problem is I just can’t pay enough attention to sales and I hate shopping.
Anyway, I hope it makes up for the “fertilizer” you’ve been dealing with lately ?
I found this at a very “reasonable” price for a 3.4oz bottle (remember when I swore I’d never buy a bottle larger than 100ml? Neither do I! ?) I was kind of stunned actually. It must have been a way to clear the shelves because it was priced lower than many of his 75ml bottles…! I got it from fragrancenet and they are reputable as far as I know, so I’m hoping it’s legit …?
I’m sure it’s legit. Fragrance net likes to seemingly randomly give incredible deals. Sometimes for just a few hours before they jack the price way up. You clicked at the right time, it was meant to be. Enjoy!
Awesome perfume score! I have noticed lately, though, that Fragrance Net seems to have gotten rid of their 30% and 35% coupons. Best I can find is 25%.
Originally, I had in my cart at 25% off, and was going to check out, but then clicked off the site because I got side tracked. I went back a few minutes later and it was 30% off. I think they were just wanting to move it out, because after I got a confirmation, I went back to the site and it was sold out…??♀️
Jalapeno, if you get into fragrance net through fragrantica it will give you the 35% off coupon.
As long as you got what you wanted in the end (within your rights), the frustrating calls are a necessary evil that will soon pass!
Today’s very specific family is perfumes that smell like Jean-Claude Ellena made them. I wanted to try to find a non-JCE that smelled like a JCE. Boy was it hard! It was a cool exercise because after reviewing and rejecting dozens of perfumes, I realized how very unique his style is. I ended up going with Thé Pour un Été – hat tip to Robin for suggesting I look amongst the early Giacobettis!
That’s a good point… JCE’s perfumes are very JCE’ish.
That is a challenge! And she outdoes Ellena with transparency in her Iunx line.
Part of the problem is that although there are many lighter perfumes these days, they tend to be padded with a lot of white musk. You might try the Heeley line. They are less abstract but very clear fragrances.
I might also look to the Jo Malones for inspiration.
But yeah, JCEs are deceptively unique
That’s a really creative category, how inspiring!
nice! we should make JCE fanclub tshirts.
My fave group is oriental or floriental and extra points maybe? for chosing to sample Loree Rodkin Gothic 1.
Very sweet, sticky vanilla with hot sweet cinnamon and pepper. Very spicy. Like rolling a cinnamon lollipop, that’s been wrapped in cellophane, in Pink Sugar vanilla..not bad I guess. Can never have too much heat in a perfume imo. ?
I haven’t had much motivation to get stuff done. I did clean the baseboards, maybe that counts lol. Ready for my town to open up already.
By the end of covid I will have married a guy I thought was meh, gained 35 lbs and know every movie on Netflix, by heart lol. It ain’t good lol.
You cleaned the baseboards? Dang, I can barely find the motivation to do that even when there isn’t a pandemic.
Yeah lol just the tops of them to wipe all the dreaded cat hair off. I didn’t go Donna Reed on them lol. My cats shed pretty hard core. Even with brushing it seems. Cat hair tumble weeds form quickly lol. And I have no idea how the tumbles end up in the pantry.
I feel like I’ve given up on the cat fur at this stage, ours are both longhaired because we’re idiots and they looked adorable at the rescue.
More power to you, you shall be my inspiration this weekend to try to reduce the fuzz coating everything!
So much cat hair here, too! My cats aren’t longhairs, but they are world champion shedders. Especially now, with the weather warming up.
I am really trying to be mindful of the weight gain, I really really love my clothes. I couldn’t help but notice today when I put on this jean skirt that its a little snug.
Wait, wait, wait — I was OK with cleaning baseboards but we need an intervention on marrying Mr. Meh. ?
I agree, don’t do anything you’ll regret later!
Perfume friends don’t let perfume friends settle for meh!
Lol u guys are funny. Ok, if I end up meeting a meh-man during covid 19 who wants to marry I won’t do it lol.
Hahaha I was worried there for a minute. Phew!
This thread is hilarious and encapsulates everything I love about NST!
You are all ready for Goth day next week! Also, I am impressed you cleaned the baseboards. I don’t think there’s enough motivation in the world for me to do that.
Why marry a meh dude? Get your prenup in place now so you don’t suffer economically when you divorce him for a better life.
Baseboards need to be cleaned???
Not the only one lacking motivation.
In my house, if the baseboards *really* need to be cleaned, then probably it’s time to paint.
If you are ever seriously considering marrying a meh man, just post on here and we’ll talk you into buying a nice perfume instead. So much better and so much cheaper!
I’m doing florals today and as there are a lot of different kinds of florals I’m wearing rather a lot of perfume.
Amoureuse by DelRae, white floral
Emotionnelle, DelRae, fruity floral
Eclipse; PdN, green floral
Un zest de rose; Parfums de Rosine; Rose
Nina; Nina Ricci, aldehydic floral
All of this sounds like a hot mess, but interestingly it isn’t. I think I’m smelling rather great.
You’re pulling a CM8 LOL ?
One time I wore 18 samples all at once
I think you smell great too ???
I knew you would have done even better than I have. And I think pulling a CM8 is now an official new word.
I’m loving how I’m getting whiffs of different things at different times. The Nina is from a small bottle of extrait I once bought. The top notes are gone, but the dry down is to die for.
That Nina sounds glorious. Even without top notes, vintage is beautiful.
More is more!
I most certainly is!
go you!
I will, and I have!
mmmmm, Amoureuse is swoon-worthy.
It is, and the combo with Emotionnelle makes it even better!
Today’s “Smells like California” scent is You or Someone Like You. When I first sampled this I hated it, but I ended up craving it and buying a bottle. Now I love it on a warm day. That shiso note… ❤️
Thanks for all the support yesterday as I attempted to pack up my classroom at the speed of light. As I suspected, it was impossible to completely do the job in 4 hours. I’ve petitioned for another time slot, but think the district is being unreasonable. If everyone stays in their classroom, which by design is physically separate from the other classrooms, more than one person should be able to safely be in a wing of the school at one time.
Have a fabulous Friday everyone. I can’t wait to see your choices!
rolling my eyes again, for you. Sorry you are having this hassle.
you smell good, so that is all that matters (at the moment)
Are they actually escorting you out after 4 hours, or just hoping you’ll do the rest on your own time?
Either way you should petition, of course.
Some of these rules are just over the top ridiculous.
That is a great one in the heat, you smell good!
I’ve been loving your theme!
I was “meh” on You or Someone Like You when I sampled it a while back. I came across my sample yesterday, I will give it another go because you never know, you know?
Shiso is such a beautiful scent! EldO has almost-complete sample sets available May 31 and I’m SO TEMPTED but I have a policy on not having more samples than my coffre can hold!
Ha! That is a good policy. I’d have to do a major purge before trying to implement it.
Ugh on that whole packing up situation! How long *should* they have given you?
I started the week in floral woody musk fragrances, but I need some comfort, so I’m wearing one of my favorite vetivers, Tom Ford Grey Vetiver.
vetiver is so nice this time of year.
Comfort scent category twins!
Jalapeno had a point about incense fragrances being suitable no matter what our weird weather is. : ) In the early morning, I dabbed CdG Jaisalmer on my arms from my sample of that.
I’ll see if my brain is clear enough tomorrow to figure out what I want to swap away. I kind of know what bottles I don’t want to keep. It might be a couple of weeks before I can get it all together and get to the post office.
Yes — our weather today is extra weird…skipped May, went into July just about. It is *humid*.
I’ll take some hair with that frizz.
Long hair with the top a big fuzzy mess. I look 2 inches taller.
In the front, my bangs have grown out, and the longer hair in back is frizzy. No added height, though. The hair on top of my head is quite thin now.
We’ve had a couple of weeks now where a few days felt like February and a couple of days have felt like July. Very confusing. Like, really cold Blursday, rainy, rainy, rainy, very hot Blursday…
I did consider incense for today, but sometimes a given perfume is rather insistent on when you wear it!
Well, sometimes one just calls your name.
In SL Santal Blanc. At least it sort of fits with my chosen family in that it is cute-ugly.
Love that one!
I’ve now tested three relatively recent Hermes fragrances: Agar Ebene, Myrrhe Eglantine, and Cedre Sambac.
Myrrhe Eglantine has a particularly lovely rose note. I wish Hermes had used that one in Rose Amazone, which I had so wanted to love but found harsh. (I so wish Hermes would go back and do Rose Amazone right!) I think I may like Myrrhe Eglantine a lot, but it needs further testing.
Agar Ebene is pleasurable to wear. At first it reminds me of Cuir d’Ange; they must share an accord, but there are other layers to Agar Ebene. AE trends somewhat drier and woodier over time. I often find Cuir d’Ange too unbearably delicious to wear. Agar Ebene has nothing irritating or too much, which makes it a star among woody fragrances in my book.
There are many perfumes I wear for personal enjoyment that I wouldn’t wear around other people. Agar Ebene would be excellent to wear around other people. (That’s bit of a moot point these days; I may need to keep a list for future reference, lol.)
I thought I would like Cedre Sambac but the floral side of it veers too close to lily for my nose. Lily perfumes really get on my last nerve. (Where did I learn that expression — was it Musette on Perfume Posse??)
I am heartened by these Hermes offerings as I did not at all care for Galop, Twilly, and some of the other late Ellena/early Nagels and thought I might have to give up on Hermes. I have samples of Cardamusc and Musc Pallida on the way. ?
Also, I recommend Robin’s reviews of these fragrances:
https://nstperfume.com/2018/03/20/hermes-cedre-sambac-agar-ebene-fragrance-reviews/
I think that whole batch of scents was really well done, I have Agar Ébène and Cèdre Sambac.
Do report on the oils, I never did smell them!
Don’t smell them, they are $$$$!!
And lasted a nano second on my skin!!
Ha, ha — the cost only ensures that I will find a way to sniff them! It’s like saying, don’t eat those chocolate chip walnut brownies, they have a million calories. ?
You know, before the pandemic I had not been in the mall in ages. No who knows if the mall will still be there if I ever want to go again? So it is hard to imagine making it to the Hermes boutique.
It didn’t help that the Hermes boutique was moved when the K of P mall expansion was completed.
Malls were a dying thing before the pandemic…
Last time I was at an Hermes boutique (just to sniff around), I smelled Bel Ami Vetiver and was in awe. That is the signature scent I would want on a man. It’s AhMazing.
In Jungle L’Elephant for the “I want to break free” fragrance family. It’s my lockdown home office fragrance family, which means as intense as I like, as much as I like, no noses spared.
I adore the ?. You smell great….cardamom ?.
i like my cardamom however i can get it. maybe particularly with french toast and orange zest, or in semolina pudding with fresh figs ???
(haven’t had dinner yet so food fantasising comes naturally)
Try it brewed with your coffee. I add it to the grinds. Also great sprinkled on vanilla ice cream ?
Good idea! Will do ??
Also great with black tea! And with roasted dandelion root tea. I keep a nutmeg grater and a cardamom grinder on my tea counter.
Discovering cardamom was a revelation. Now I can’t live without it, I love it in baked goods and perfume, and I have some essential oil. If I ever remember I will try brewing it in my coffee.
I grind some with my coffee nearly every day! Try it. You may fall in love!
Ooh! I have worn that one multiple times during “house arrest” as well. Don’t care if my family hates it.
The Elephant certainly announces its present. Good Covid test for the family: if someone can’t smell it, get them tested quick ?
???
Love it! I’m playing with my powerhouse perfumes, too.
Yeas!!
One of my favorites- stunning perfume that just goes and goes and goes…I can smell it a week later if I happen to wear the same top. I think spraying lavishly is the way to do it!
Yes, it does stick around. I have to be careful to choose positive occasions to wear it, to avoid associating all that intensity with negative situations. Have another quite intense perfume that I premiered on a day I took a 4 hour train trip, and then got sea sick. Now I cannot wear the scent without a slight queasiness creeping in! And I so love it.
For everyone who loves cardamom: give Ineke Jaipur Chai a try.
Thanks, will check it out!
I am wearing Organza Indecence, which “very nearly defines the category” of wood pudding. To tell you the truth, I have not been really doing this week’s CP, but was mostly drawn to rich orientals. But I am so ready for community projects in the next three weeks!
You smell great Glannys, and yes, it is the bestest wood pudding.
You smell amazing.
OI is one of my very favorite cold-weather fragrances and I agree that it defines wood pudding – with a dash of cinnamon on top. You smell great!
Oh dear, shame this seems to be discontinued. Wood pudding sounds like a family I most definitely could get on board with. I’d add Maison Lancôme’s Santal Cardamon to that family.
Yes, unfrotunately it is discontinued.
I have not tried this new Lancome, and the notes seem very appealing to me. I would add Pierre Guillome’s Cadjmere and Indocine to the category.
Uhh – nice notes. Have added those two straight to my ‘to test’ list ?
Seconding Indochine
My favorite fragrance family is spicy oriental, vinrage Coco edt is my favorite of that category but it isn’t right for today. New category is Calm for Corona, wearing Gris Clair today. I found a little bit of Encens Lavande that I’m adding to it. Other members include Kyoto, Chanel No 19, Zoologist Bee….it’s my category so I can add whatever is working. And Shalimar, of course. I’m with LtSG, it should be in a category all it’s own. Happy Friday, y’all
That’s my favorite fragrance family too. Happy Friday!
You smell beautiful in Gris Clair.
I agree, that’s definitely an essential fragrance family – that and the “picture postcard”-category that takes one to all those places one can’t go to in person at the moment!
Oh, picture postcard is a great category!
Happy Friday!
You smell glorious!
Gris clair is wonderful
White Cube for my musk week grand finale. One of my all time favorites. It’s gorgeous today!? I’ve got a 3 day weekend but I also have to write a paper for my class. Then six weeks of academic freedom until my next class starts. My daughter finished her last final yesterday. Today we’ll package up her textbooks and mail them back to the university. Now I’ll keep my fingers and toes crossed that there will be in person classes this fall.??
I am keeping my fingers crossed too because middle one is supposed to start her nursing clinicals in the fall! On the plus side with them being home and having zero distractions they both got straight As this semester.
That’s awesome!!
Because there was nothing else for them to do LOL ?
But you’ll be happy about the grades, anyway.
Good luck to the young marzipans with school and careers!
Wearing The best of the best! I’m expecting gorgeous tomorrow, hopefully. Enjoy ??
Those Narciso cubes are strikingly gorgeous, lovely pefume too, you smell beautiful.
Robin, another citrus. Favorite of all time..today?
My fragrance family fell into my lap. I’ve been unpacking and have discovered perfumes I have forgotten all about. I’m a little embarrassed and ready to shed some of these puppies. I have 3 back up bottles of one perfume ?.
Fragrance family is Forgotten Friends. Not sure what I will find today, so I am unscented, but excited.
Oh, favorite of all time, ack, I could never pick!
Whoops! Meant to respond that you are a wonderful mom! Good luck with your paper.
Not a favorite fragrance family but reading the words ‘wood pudding’ yesterday reminded me about Narciso which is my scent today.
Such a lovely scent and a bit sexy too with his gorgeous use of musk. We’ll see what my husband says as I’ve not worn this one in a while.
Weather has been just gorgeous here in the NYC area and I’m grateful for it. Looking like 80s tomorrow!
Narciso is so good! You smell beautiful.
There was a 24 hour on line celebration of Stevie Wonder’s 70th birthday this Wednesday you may be able to find it @Questlove’s Youtube site or on instagram if it was saved. They had 5 professional DJ’s throughout the day spinning his music.
What an amazing talent. It was uplifting, and such a ray of sunshine and happiness.
I am still humming ‘Always’ in my head, the long version. It’s good for today’s mindset.
I did a simple fragrance today for some Dr’s apptmts.
MFK Baccarat Rouge 540.
Smells like a Stevie tune.
Happy Friday all.
Is this it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeiOVkdpM5I
Yes! HAHA – he did a section on International Covers of Stevie’s songs – which is really humorous. He played some great covers and I caught each of the DJ’s for a bit throughout the day and the way they mixed the songs, especially some of the longer uncut versions where like being at a really cool dance party.
It’s hard to be in a bad mood or upset at the world with Stevie playing.
Stevie Wonder was so young when he started. I had to think, is he really only seventy?
Yes I know what you mean he started at age 12 they say and he wrote songs for Tammy Turell in his teens – she would’ve been BIG by then. Who knew? And he also wrote for the Jackson 5. His catalog is very deep.
I don’t want to think of him as older now….
Sign Sealed Delivered is one of my favorites of his
I know! There are so many more that we’ve (or I’ve) forgotten about! It was very fun to hear them again.
I met Stevie Wonder in college! We had a lot of blind students at Michigan State and I had a blind roommate who had gone to school with him at Michigan School for the Blind in Lansing. He came for another friend’s birthday party. He was nice and told me I was beautiful. He’s very tall! It was when My Cherie Amour was popular and he played piano and sang it, among other things.
Cool story! I love him.
How cool is that!?
VERY!
Now that’s a story!
Ebony and Ivory..?
What a great story!
WOW WHAT a story!!!
A beautiful soul, that one. I bet you felt it too.
One of the local radio stations in my area was playing at least one Stevie Wonder song every hour on Wednesday. What an amazing catalog he has! ?
That is really wonderful.
Wearing Vilhelm Parfumerie A Lilac a Day to finish my lilac family week. The best lilac perfume I have tried so far. It smells like the leaves, the flowers, everything from a lilac tree. It has been on my full bottle “to buy list” for a while. It may be my next full bottle purchase, since I am lacking full bottle lilac perfumes in my collection.
Gorgeous day in the 80’s. Yay!!! ????. Ready to go outside to take a very long walk. I took the day off from work to keep some mental sanity. It has been crazy this week.
Happy Friday, everyone! ?
I need to try this, I have never found my ultimate lilac scent.
It is worth sampling. Besides being beautiful is has a great longevity on my skin. Perfect for spring time!
I think this niche house makes travel sprays which might hold you over until you purchase a full bottle.
I may check that option later.
Happy day off! ???
Thank you, Lillyjo! ?
I went for a long walk this morning, see my above post.
Enjoy!
It was a perfect day for sure! ??
I remember that as an easy sample to thunk–it was really good.
It is indeed!
I, too, love lilac fragrances and would’ve joined you in them this week but I always wait until mine are blooming; right now they’re only in the budding stage. I’m not familiar with your scent today and will have to check that one out as I love burying my face in the whole bush and inhaling all of it!
I hope you have the chance to try it. Lilacs in my area are in full bloom right now. So gorgeous!
Oh dear – I did not need to know about this, as I love both lilac and much of what I’ve tried from Vilhelm!
Well….. another one to try then ?. I am pretty sure you will like this one also!
Hurray for a long walk in this gorgeous weather!
It was a fabulous day! ?????
Cool rainy Friday. I’m celebrating the floriental category in Andy Tauer’s PHI Rose de Kandahar.
Oh, you smell outstanding!!
PHI is phenomenal, truly an astonishing perfume. You smell amazing.
Smelling fabulous in PHI.
It’s cool and rainy here too. Seems to be mandatory weather for a long weekend ?️
Hi all, my SOTD is Fendi extrait by Fendi. Just a tiny bit.
Happy Friday all!
Swoon?
All you need is just a tiny bit with that one!
My SotD is Eau d’Italie’s Paestum Rose, from the “Serious floral” category, i. e. the group of perfumes that show that flowers in perfumery can be so much more than just frilly, pretty, intoxicating, or whatever else one normally associates with them.
That sounds beautiful. I have to try any Eau d’Italie scents.
Are you new on here? Scusami if you are not. And if you are , welcome
… not really new, no, but a no more than intermittent poster – and just on the Friday community projects at that. Grazie comunque del tuo benvenuto!
With respect to the Eau d’Italie range: The early ones are definitely worth trying. I find, however, that lately (or actually since Acqua Decima in 2013) they have lost their way a bit. Their original idea of taking various regions or places in Italy and translating their character into a perfume would, in my opinion, still have held so many possibilities that I don’t really get why they suddenly started to release those newer scents without any recognizable back story at all. After all, they didn’t even come close to covering all of Italy, so there would definitely have been more than enough places to be inspired by! Nevertheless, I hope you do get the chance to try the line.
Ah, ok. Which earlier ones are stand out to you?
Magnolia Romana is one I really enjoy, especially during late spring and summer.
Paestum Rose is definitely my favourite, both as far as the actual scent and as far as the backstory goes (with the town of Paestum the centre of rose-growing and therefore of perfumery in ancient Rome). I also quite like Baume du Doge and Bois d’Ombrie. Sienne l’Hiver (to my nose at least a brinier version of Dzongkha) is great as an artistic piece (I seem to remember vaguely that Bertrand Duchauffour said in an interview given at around the time of its launch that he regarded it his best work up to that point), but a bit difficult to actually wear. The eponymous Eau d’Italie has something of the flintyness of Terre d’Hermès, but with more heat stored in the stones. And Jardin du Poète, to my nose at least, is a rhubarb scent before rhubarb became a thing. The only ones that haven’t really clicked with me are the two more traditionally floral ones, i. e. Au Lac and Bateau pour Capri, which at the time I dismissed as too predictably pretty for me to wear as a man. But then, I just didn’t test them as attentively as the others.
I recently tried Baume du Doge (because of Robin, lol) which I really like, but wish was a room spray. I tried Sienne d’Hiver early, and it’s very complex, but overall left me thinking of brined green olives, perhaps because I got Juniper Sling in the same sample order (sorry : ( )
I love your category, and Paestum Rose is a perfect exemplar! I think EL’s Private Collection would be another I would pick.
I’ve always wanted to try that one but never had the chance – it’s too special for the local brick-and-mortar stores that carry the normal EL range, but not niche enough for the online shops that offer a mail-order sampling service on our side of the pond.
Look ip and see if you have a “Company Store” nearby; it’s Estee Lauder’s outlet store. They’ll have Estee, Clinique, and Bobby Brown stuff. I got my Azuree and my Youth Dew Bath Oil there. They might (ok definitely) not have original Private Collection, but I tried the new version and it was my favorite out if the bunch.
Finishing off my “Easy” fragrance family week with Czech & Speake Dark Rose. Deep, but fun and easy to wear.
I like the easy category
I put it in a different box, but we both love it!
Does rose count as a family? Probably not, but I will count it as such anyway. (I have a row of rose perfumes in my cabinet, anyway, where I classify by family.) So I am in Rose Flash today. I smell wonderful. I love going nuclear with this scent, but out of consideration for my co-quarantined, sensitive-nostriled fiance, I have demonstrated restraint.
Looking so forward to this weekend, which shall be meeting-free!
I’ve been doing rose week, I think that counts!
I say yes.
If I did Tuberose as my category, you can do Rose; it totally counts. Meetings are, ahem, overrated. Enjoy the meeting-free weekend!!!
Hehehe. Sounds like a deal. Thanks!
Rose totally counts! ???
I thought of you today during my 5.5 hours of meetings. Not nearly as bad as yours earlier this week! But still, accomplishing anything else is impossible.
Oh how awful. Perhaps I didn’t make this clear earlier, but while I had 7.5 h of meetings I was SUPPOSED to attend, I only DID attend five of those hours, so you’ve still got me beat >.> yuck.
It’s been a cool week, so I have been wearing leather perfumes: Cuirs by Carner Barcelona, Cuir de Lamcome and Baikal Leather Intense by Nicolai.
leather is nice in cool weather..
Love Cuir de Lancôme! Haven’t tried the other two. Do you have a favorite?
I am in the spring floral family with Desarmant, the perfect lilac
Nice.
Decided to go with orientals and am wearing Black orchid, which I consider one of the best of the genre.
Wow, that is saying a lot!
I love Black Orchid
Montale’s Patchouli Leaves.
I love that one. It’s a really great patchouli.
Great choice!
Wow! That is a beauty.
What a fantastic patchouli! You smell marvelous.
Such a good patchouli. I’m so glad you’re enjoying it!
Finishing cuddly scent week with my all time favorite L’ Air de Rien.
The boyfriend has to have his bypass operation on 9.6, so our wedding on 7.7 has to be postponed. I hope he will cope well. We will have our elopement wedding later, it’s a pity, but you can’t plan your life
Ackh! That is too bad. But no bypassing bypass surgery. A wedding delayed may be all the sweeter.
I hope things go well with the bypass and the elopement!
You smell wonderful. So sorry to hear the wedding has to be postponed, but I hope he has a speedy and full recovery.
Good luck with his procedure and I am sorry that the wedding needs to be postponed.
Best wishes for your boyfriend. And congratulations to him on having such a caring fiance who only wants the best for him.
Your very special wedding will be even more special with that kind of bond.
Wishing all the best ahead for both of you and a wonderful lifetime ahead together.
Hope everything goes well for you and the soon to be hubs!
Hope all goes well for you and your fiancee!
Oh, that is soon, glad they got him scheduled so quickly.
I so hope everything goes well, both the surgery and the elopement! All the best to
you both.
Oof. Best wishes.
Fingers crossed for a successful surgery outcome! The wedding can wait. ?
Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your fiancé!
Ugh. Best wishes to your fiancé.
First really warm and sunny day this spring and I’m wearing Chanel Paris-Deauville.
fabulous, I love les eaux! Cologne-ish scents are so nice this time of year. I have a decant of Paris – Riviera on my desk that I am going to wear this weekend.
Riviera is my second favorite of the Eaux. I have a sample only; probably need a bottle someday!
My girlfriend sent me the hair and body wash of that one for my birthday and it smells divine. I do use it in my hair and the scent does stay a bit. How is the lasting power on the cologne?
Jumping in to say that I find it pretty long lasting, especially for an EdT. By long lasting I mean a few hours on skin with 6-10 sprays and even longer on clothes (8 or so hours).
Thank you! It smells so good in the body wash a bottle is surely tempting.
I agree – it lasts pretty well unless my skin is totally arid. If I moisturize first I get decent longevity. I always spray on my clothes too.
Ah yes!! Clothes spraying is great. And then you can smell it the next day ?
You smell lovely. I love this one and I’ve worn it twice this week. Great summer scent (really any time but especially in the summer).
Can you please describe? This has been on the sniff list for a long time. ?
SotD = Eau des Minimes
My other favorite EdM (not Eau des Merveilles, LOL!) has a fantastic citrus opening then gentle flowers, woods, maybe a bit of vanilla.
I love it.
Yesterday I wore 4711, kept things simple because I planned to spend the day speed sampling. I’d take a handful of spray samples and decants outside, spray on paper and sniff. If it was promising I would find an unscented spot of skin and apply a little. When my nose got fatigued I stopped, waited a few hours, then did it all again. Went through about 50 samples.
Have a fantastic and fragrant Friday, NST friends.
You! Smell! Marvelous!
Wow, that was quite a project!
lol, yes, it was a non-stop sniff-a-thon yesterday, and I did it again today. It feels really good to toss emptied samples, put others aside for more sniffing.
Oh my goodness I adore that fragrance ( eau de Minions/ Minimes) and it hardly gets mentioned. It’s a shame it’s d/c. It’s citrus with heft and delicious herbs….so good!!
I am also considering buying my dad a bottle of 4711 for his birthday this year. It’s a nostalgic scent for us.
Eau des Minions, lol, I just watched Despicable Me with my college age daughter. We had a few good laughs.
yay for 4711, it’s just right for everybody! I keep mine in the fridge.
50 different samples?!?!?!?!? I *might* get thru that many in a year! ?
yup! it was cray-cray-crazy. I had to do something fast, the samples were taking over. Many were years and years old, I know because I bought them when I first fell down for perfume again.
Many old ones had evaporated and broken down, so were not wearable. Those went right in the trash bin. A few aged nicely tho!
speed sampling! i love this
it was fun! so I did more speed sampling today. Rules of Speed Sample Club are
1 – grab a big handful of samples
2 – find a quiet place to sit outdoors
3 – start sniffing and sorting into toss, try again, and give away
4 – don’t stand up until the nose quits or the samples are all done!
Tomorrow I’m moving on to decants.
Whoa! That’s impressive. I may emulate your procedure, but target a smaller number. It IS super satisfying to “process” a sample. I admit my relationship with samples is weird: once acquired they feel like a (pleasant) task even burden, because I feel compelled to make a decision about them. Which is silly. I could just… thoroughly enjoy them in my own time.
So why do I even buy them? I already have enough perfume! And yet, maybe that magical even better more amazing scent is around the corner…
exactly this, I swore never to buy more samples, and then I bought some yesterday. But only 4!
It’s like a perpetual perfumed treasure hunt.
Finishing inappropriate/out of sync with vintage Poison. I’m wearing a fair bit, enough that my kid said she could smell me from across the room. I told her that in the 80s this scent was banned in restaurants, that’s how strong it is. She rolled her eyes.
It is totally wrong for the 80-somehting degree weather we are having, and yet it is totally glorious, as always.
I remember those glory days.
So do I ??
Giorgio was also banned in NYC.
Was Primo banned too? Lol. Tuberoseophobes
Hee hee
You are funny ??
The glory days of Poison or the glory days of rolling your eyes at your mom?
For some of us, they were one & the same! ?
Poison is always appropriate! You smell sooooo good!
Fragrance Family – Iris
SOTD = Gucci Tears of Iris
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAN3lX6BwNA/?igshid=1mw6wd2luep2g
Very nice … for all of 30 minutes. I re-upped with another 8 sprays and poof except for some lingering musk, in 39 minutes. I’m not bothered by the short life but have to admit it is expensive, even at a good discount, for the length of enjoyment I’ll get out of this. The bottle though is a candidate for bottle porn! AND, it has OWLS on various places – the bottle, the cap, the pouch and the box itself! I really did not notice until I opened it and whoa! ?
And now for a Zoom Woe:
There is an app called Cat Snaps. You load it in your iPhone (and probably also works in an Android), launch the game, put it on the floor and wait for your curious cat to come over and when a paw hits the screen (to catch a moving red light), BAM, instant cat selfie. As you can imagine, that selfie usually takes a close-up of the kitteh and pretty much fills up the screen. So, why am I telling you this? Invariably, meetings have documents that are being shared online and more often than not, the image is so small that the natural tendency is to get closer to your screen which also means closer to your camera which then means there could be times when the squares (which move to the right or the bottom) become all about seeing people’s noses really up close and I have to say, not very attractive.
On a related note, there’s a senior manager who likes to get close to the screen to see who’s on and / or whenever she wants to make a dramatic public shaming (yes, it happens!) point. Now, whenever a co-worker and I discuss whether or not a particular action will likely elicit this up close to the screen shaming, we say – don’t do it – you may get Cat Snapped! ???
That’s hilarious! I need to get that App.
On the topic of Zoom meetings, have you seen the hilarious Room Rater on Twitter? I don’t usually bother with Twitter, but a friend kept sending me examples and they were so funny I got on to look. It had me in hysterics! He’s also doing good work, raising money to send lots of medical supplies to Native Americans.
I’ve seen it – nice. It started with Anderson Cooper envy ? but he’s blue-blooded so the comparison may not be fair.
And that should say 30 minutes, not 39!
I found the “39 minutes” charming! ?
Thanking the gods above I haven’t had to Zoom…yet.
That bottle is gorgeous..!
Indeed it is! Zoom works better for work for me than Cisco Jabber…both use my wireless (powered by DSL) but yet one is crappy and the other one works well.
That bottle ?
It really is gorgeous!
That’s funny that you didn’t notice the owls. Don’t you collect them?
I collect owls and more are joining the collection. I bought Tears of Iris for the nice things I heard about it (so enabler pin to pfl67!) and jumped on a discount that was expiring imminently and did not have time to ooh and aah over the bottle. It was a very nice surprise!
Then they’re going to have to rename the app Nosehair Snapped
Ha! I think Zoom should come with a warning – trim nose hair before using ?
YEEEEEEK! ?
I had to message a friend of mine about that “Cat Snaps” app. I wonder if they will check it out? ?
If I have an animate kitteh, I would ?
OMG this cracked me up. And made me super grateful to have the job, boss and coworkers that I have.
Not my boss but at some point, her behavior will come back to bite her.
I’m finishing my week of non-sweet non-stewed-fruit Serges with Borneo 1843, one of my top patchouli fragrances. Yum! It’s dry and yes spicy, but not sweet The only one that tops it is CdG Luxe Patchouli. That’s a truly chewy patchouli!
In other news, I got my St. Clair new fragrance samples and will comment on them tomorrow.
I must try a Borneo sample again. In my Forgotten Friends family, I found some old Serges, still wrapped up. ?
That CDG is another I’ve almost blind bought 1,000 times. Is it dark? I love dark patch!!
Oh yeah, dark as midnight! Do try it!
Borneo 1834 Is my favorite patchouli! CDG LUXE Patchouli is better?!?!?
Yes, but sort of rougher and dirtier.
Sounds like I have a couple more patch perfumes to sniff out…
Okay so I just watched Persolaise compare Borneo to Coromandel – is this true??
I don’t know—what do they say?
I’m wearing Hermes Agar Ebene for my grandma’s 80th birthday
Happy Birthday to your Grandma!
Happy BDay Grandma lucasai! 80 years – so much experience!
Happy birthday to your babcia!
Birthday wishes for your dear Grandma!
Wszystkiego najlepszego dla twojej babci!
80 years, congratulations. Many more healthy years to her and to you.
This is from google translate, does that even work? I worked with a couple people from Poland who were bilingual and was fascinated but they couldn’t teach me any (no time, ah well). This was before the internet was widespread. I’m leery of Translate, it doesn’t always capture it correctly.
SOTM was Mediterraneo, partly because I love it and partly because I’m expecting a package from LuckyScent today and needed something that would fade by mid-afternoon. Mission accomplished as far as the fading is concerned, and now waiting (im)patiently for the UPS person.
I understand that type of waiting. I’ve done a bit of damage over the past month and the wait has almost been painful. What perfume are you waiting for?
Just one – Papillon Dryad. Fell deeply in love after only 1ml and sprang for a FB before it becomes too late.
Yep, I think that is a well loved house around here. Enjoy that bottle!
It’s here, it’s here! And equally as lovely as the sample. I can already see that I will be boring the NST universe by wearing it and exclaiming about it daily for the next few weeks.
Whoo hoo for your new bottle!
Earlier I sprayed on another ‘I want it to be Summer’ scent with CB At the Beach 1966. This has almost faded so I will have to go to something with more oomph for this afternoon.
There is talk of us having to go back to the office after next week. Of course there will be new rules in place: 6 feet apart, possible staggering of seating arrangements and optional masks. My co-worker friend and I were a bit alarmed at the word ‘optional’ so I think we will have to raise this up to management.
“Optional” seems to be the word now. Sadly, people who choose that optional option endanger those who do not.
“optional” sounds a lot like “if you don’t like it you can bugger off”. Delete if too political, but it’s not aimed at anyone in particular
? for “optional”. I’ve worn both masks and respirators for extended periods of time when necessary. It’s not fun. But safety ought to be paramount at this time.
Boo to optional. I was reading some Return to Office materials today and saw things like “when you walk into a room, walk in a clockwise direction,” “follow the directional arrows for one way hallways,” “no more than 4 in an elevator,” “stand where indicated while waiting for an elevator”. Our cafeterias will only have pre-packaged stuff and checkout will be contactless. Furniture will be removed from the lobbies. Tips for managers Week 1, Week 2, Week 3. Some of these make sense but others are really overkill.
After 25 years in the perfume industry, I still love marine fragrances the most (Bulgari Aqua being my penultimate), with aquatics second. Ozonics like Kenzo Air, are good too! Living on the ocean shore, breathing in the sea air with the tang of salty kelp, is probably what formed my choice.
Interesting – marine fragrances get such a bad reputation often. But Davidvoff Cool Water was one of my first obsessions (befor I even knew what marine was). Now I enjoy Heeley’s Sel Marin every now and again.
Ha! I have an old bottle of Cool Water I keep out. Love it!
Despite being a person for whom aquatic/ozone/melon fragrances don’t work really well, I will not argue that the development and usage of the compounds revolutionized fragrance. I am also an insufferable landlubber, the closest thing to the sea to me is Lake Michigan.
I have to say, I really like Zoologist Squid but now I suspect that will brand me even more as an insufferable landlubber.
I started the morning in Pierre Bourdon’s La Fin d’un Été which wore off after 2-3 hours (such a shame but I still adore it; and I am afraid to spray too lavishly because I don’t want to run out as it’s been discontinued). I think I will switch to some Carnal Flower very soon.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Ah, La Fin d’un Eté, such a beauty. I’m so glad I got a bottle. I get about 4 – 5 hours.
Carnal Flower is another gem.
At the risk of repeating myself, I owe being able to enjoy this beauty to you. Thank you again. It was after I got it that I read Angela’s review.
I wear a lot of florals of all kinds in the spring and summer, and today I was thinking in terms of neroli or orange blossom, so I spritzed on LAP Histoire D’Orangers.
You smell great Mary Carol!
My favorite fragrance is Coromandel – what fragrance family is that?
In more Carnal Flower today. Assuming this decant is legit, I’m not sure how I feel about it. It’s kinda oily. In terms BWF I think I prefer Fleur de Lalita by Dusita, as it’s drier.
I think Coromandel is considered an oriental. What a beauty it is!
If you’d like to hear some of Persolaise’s musings regarding which category Coromandel belongs to, he is discussing it in one of his recent videos “Top 5 Best Chanel Exclusive Perfumes”, on his website.
Nice, I will check it out
I am watching his reviews now – and I see that he is comparing Coromandel to Borneo. Now methinks I need to try Borneo
Coromandel might be its own family, but I’d call it a gourmand oriental, and the only fragrance I know that I’d put in the same category is Bruno Fazzolari Ummagumma. They are not alike, but both have gourmand traits balanced by other notes so they’re not just dessert-smells. (nothing wrong with dessert-smells, just that those two aren’t quite that)
I remember Ummagumma getting ALOT of love here two winters ago. I like Fazzolari’s Unsettled and Lampblack, so perhaps I should try this too. And I agree that Coromandel deserves the honor of its own family
Fragrance family: oriental
I started the day in Sahara Noir, and I’m finishing it in Habanita, usually no wallflower but it definitely is gentler than SH which was wearing me.
I got excited the other night because I found a bottle of Sahara Noir for a decent price… read the fine print and it was empty!
If you have to look hard to discover it’s a listing for an empty bottle, I would conclude that the seller is up to no good.
Ummmmm… . So I put in an order with the 30% off at Twisted Lily. I threw in an Eight & Bob discovery set, since I’ve never sniffed anything from that house. At 30%, the collection set thingy was $15.40. My box arrived today, heavier than expected. That Eight & Bob thing turned out to be this (no longer on the TL site, but found it here): https://www.escentual.com/en-US/eight-and-bob/eightandbob018/ When I get organized, I would be happy to share some of this bounty. Anyone stateside have a yen for Eight & Bob?
Woohoo! And dang!
Wow you got a real bargain!
Holy smoke! What a steal!
Wow, what a bargain!
Woods -and-spice is my favorite fragrance family but, as a mostly seasonal fragrance wearer, I never wear these in spring, instead turning to galbanum and oakmoss and patchouli. For as long as I can remember I have always worn and loved vintage chypres – some of my favorites are Rive Gauche, Crepe de Chine, Y, and Ma Griffe – but for today’s SOTD I chose vintage Miss Dior, probably my most favorite of the group. Right now I’m inhaling the exquisite oakmoss dry down deeply . . .
Nature, baseball and music continue to sustain me. The beautiful but shy Indigo Buntings joined our visiting Baltimore Orioles and ever-singing Wrens; I’m already dressed in my Sox gear anticipating tonight’s special showing of the 2005 ALCS game in which one of my favorite players stole first base; and Josh Groban Awake Live + a special live-stream from husband and wife duo Patchouli + daily live-streams from my favorite cellist Ian Maksin have lifted my soul with beautiful music.
And so I’ll leave you with a favorite song from Chicago’s official troubadour, Mark Dvorak. When my cat broke her paw last fall and was in a cast from the tip of her toes to her shoulder, she would sit sadly in my lap and I would sing this song to her and tell her, It’lI Be Better, and eventually it was. Hope it brightens your day and weekend!
https://youtu.be/YwrVcH5NilA
Oh, the vision of you and casted kitty is so sweet! Here is a lady who sings and plays short little songs to her chihuahua. So ADORABLE! Enjoy the Sox game!
https://youtu.be/cLLr4zwQZY8
Oh, buntings and orioles and wrens! My first spring since moving and I miss the birdsong so much.
It’ll be better when it’s better I
suppose ?
Song of the day: https://youtu.be/32bdevGClD4
Going back to the ’90’s with this one!
Thanks to everyone who expressed sympathy/empathy over my brother’s situation. I talked with him again today, after he had a good night’s rest, and he still sounded rather upbeat.
In my part of the world, Summer just kicked in the door and said “I’m here!” I made my first batch of iced tea today, because I needed it. Of course, the cats are LOVING this warm weather. ??
SOTD = L’Artisan Voleur de Roses, from a sample that jepster gave me a while back. This one was love at first sniff. It also falls solidly into the categories of “calming” and/or “comfort” scents for me. Loving those little whiffs of scent I am giving off. ??
Glad to hear your brother seems to be taking everything in stride. Everything about that video screams NINETIES! ?
He was pretty sure that something was coming down the pike and that it was only a question of when.
Isn’t that video awesome!?
Missed the news about your brother, so sorry, fingers crossed for a new job soon.
Thanks Aurora.
? on your bro!
Taking a very late lunch break to check in and will catch up on everyone’s comments later (reading nst in the evening is so relaxing).
Today the leathers continues with: Memo Italian and Irish Leathers, abd now a dab of Hiram Greene Hyde on one hand and Aftel Cuir Gardenia on the other.
All four are ones I didn’t care for on first try, all four I pulled out of discard bin for this week. The Aftel still has too much ashtray in it for me. The Memos: huh, maybe I do like them? Probably not FB though, the Love is still too low and the Price too high. And I think I may be falling in love with Hyde. Well. That was unexpected.
Finally, a PSA (sorry if it already got mentioned above): Tigerlily in SF is organizing a virtual event on the 31st, includes a smelling kit: https://tigerlilyperfumery.com/products/villa-des-parfums-digital-live-event
MONDAY: Chanel Cuir de Russie, Naomi Goodsir Cuir Velours, Memo Moroccan Leather
TUESDAY: Knize Ten, J.F. Schwarzlose Berlin Leder 6, Molinard Cuir, ELDO Tom of Finland, Beaufort London Iron Duke
WEDNESDAY: Bottega Veneta Bottega Veneta, Bottega Veneta Eau de Velours, Strange Invisible Perfumes Black Rosette, Frederic Malle Rose & Cuir
THURSDAY: Demeter Russian Leather, Robert Piguet Bandit EDT and EDP, L’Artisan Dzing!, Histoires de Parfum 1740, St. Claire Gardener’s Glove, ELDO Charogne
The Aftel smelled of rotting flowers ( solid sample). I kept it for several years and kept retrying it because I know Afteliel gets a lot of love ( nothing that I sampled ever blew me away but CG was a definite no- no). I finally passed my sample on to a perfumista.
My very limited experience with Aftelier has been similar. There were a few I briefly sniffed at her museum that I would be interested in properly sampling (Memento Mori is one), but they’re also so expensive, I think, “Why?”
That said, her museum is AMAZING. Such a shame: I can’t imagine how the could ever reopen until there is a vaccine. The fun bits are sniffing all the essences and materials. I don’t know how you could safely do that now. Grateful that I had the experience.
Dang, I never got to try Cuir Gardenia, but maybe that’s a good thing.
As for Hyde, it’s the first Barbecue scent I’ve ever loved. Although it’s only barbecue for about 1/2 hr.
I am impressed by trying 6 scents in one day! I can maybe do 3 if they are short-lived.
I know! It’s the barbecue pit that put me off the first time. TBH I’m not even sure I skin tested it, I was so put off. Real learning lesson there! Indeed, that wears off quickly and I’ve been sniffing my wrist ever since.
Tuberose bomb of the day is Moon Bloom. Went way to the coconut side for some reason.
Now I have on Nuit de Bakelite, still trying to decide how I feel about it.
Gonna need to make a swap list tonight!
A beautiful day today, sunny, high in the 70’s, for those of you east of Wisconsin hopefully you’ll have at least one good weekend day!
Nuit de Bakelite is so strange and so beautiful.
I know I’ m on my third wearing and still trying to figure it out. That’s usually a good sign ?
I went for my favorite weird little family I call iodine greens, which combine mossy and seaweed elements. The most perfect example I can think of is Alaya Moriel’s l’Écume des Jours, which features, among other things, boronia, lotus, seaweed, and cedar moss. It’s basically green floral with a good hint of the actual ocean, not the artificial Calone “oceanic” notes. L’Ecume is very inky, like the depths of the ocean, and boronia gives it otherworldly, alien floral quality. I love wearing this during thunderstorms, when the air is charged and smells mossy and a little bit like the seaside.
Some lotus perfumes and many narcissus heavy perfumes would definitely qualify here as well. For en elegant take on this theme, I have a bottle of Au Dela Narcisse by Bruno Fazzolari on hand.
And speaking of narcissus, I would like to thank the NST community for introducing me to St Clair Scents Song of Aubrac; my sample arrived today in the mail and I’m enjoying smelling it on the blotter right now. No iodine notes but I can smell the narcissus and the whole thing is very beautiful.
What an interesting category! I don’t think I’ve sniffed anything that qualifies. You’ve made me curious!
Ooooh I might have to try that one!
Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée to finish off “between genders” week.
It kept me ALMOST calm during today’s weekly grocery run. Ugh. People weren’t socially distancing well in the first place, so my city is a shambles with infection rates holding steady for weeks rather than declining, but now it feels like a sizeable portion of the population is just ignoring protocol entirely. Afjfjdkdjfakskfjfjsl!!!!!
But it’s fine…. Had a nice vegan stir-fry for dinner to “offset” some of this week’s cake orgy, and am gonna do my daily meditation and let it go with a big glass of red wine afterwards ?
Lol at cake orgy! I’ve been on a cookie binge myself.
The argument of what is a better dessert, cake or pie, solved! Pie is simply not orgy worthy…or is it? Perhaps creme pies are.
Officially, I would pick cheesecake!
I just about fell off my couch in shock when I heard that the beaches in my state would be open for Memorial Day weekend. I understand the financial impact being closed is having, but I think/feel that things are opening up too soon. Hoping against hope that it doesn’t go horribly sideways. ?
Supposedly, the numbers are being controlled at the entrance and by drastically reduced parking. What are streets for anyway!
Yes, there’s definitely a sentiment in some quarters of “screw it, I’ll take my chances”. And yeah, I get it, everyone is going to have to make their own choices and assess their own risks. I live with my 85 year old grandma. I have no such luxury. I couldn’t live with myself if I brought it back to her.
And when my 30 yo cousin says things like, “I just want to get it already, can I lick something”… ugh. Yes, you’re relatively young and metabolically healthy but this has taken down people in that category. You can transmit it to others, add to the headcount at the hospital where my 64 yo Mom works and goddess forbid she has to run into your room while you’re coding and she doesn’t have adequate PPE…
/end rant
Happy belated birthday! I hope the cake orgy is worth it!
I tried wearing “offensive” perfumes to force social distancing, and resting b*tch face, which isn’t nearly as effective wearing a mask. I think the perfumes work? It needs to be like a lot of Estee Lauder Youth Dew or Bogue MAAI or Lutens Serge Noire, I’ve had success with those anyway.
On the other hand, I have, and will continue to, binge on pie. Pie is great, if it’s made well.
SO worth it!
Hrmmm… I HAVE been holding on to what’s left of a sample of Zoologist Hyrax, which I enjoyed but felt wasn’t really appropriate for public wear as it’s POWERFULLY animalic….
I’ll definitely spray generously on my next grocery day, report to follow!
Hyrax would definitely put you in the “stay away” category! But I love Hyrax, so I might not be objective…if you have a dabber sample, it’s especially great for scents that are too “clean” and need a bit of dirtying up. I also wear it by itself, so I ended up getting a travel spray.
I’m finally posting for real, after popping in and out today. I have a hard time posting my sotd unless I have a little peace and quiet. I wore Shangri La for my chypre florals family. It makes me feel fancy and grown up and like my house is clean, lol.
It’s been a busy day, with errands. You would think that covid was over by the amount of traffic. The only thing worse than Michigan drivers in the snow, is Michigan drivers on a beautiful spring day.
Kinda crazy here, too. I had a couple of errands to run and was surprised that how many drivers were on one of the “main drags” in my town. I haven’t seen that kind of traffic in months!
I know! I was really getting used to light traffic.
Ack! That should be “about how many”. Sheesh, that sentence looks horrible.
“it makes me feel fancy and grown up and like my house is clean” I wonder if that’s why Shangri-La and me don’t get along as much as I like; Shangi-La knows none of those things are true for me, lol. I still want to love it though. I hope you got to enjoy some of the spring day!
Fwiw, none of those things are true for me either. It took me until I doused myself in it to love it. It’s one that’s best smelled all around instead of nose to wrist. I very much enjoyed the sun today ?
So late to the game today. Fiori di Capri. Floral. A bit dry, not sweet. So falls into my somewhat green camp. I followed that with Jour Ensolleille this evening. Also kind of dry.
Switched out some cold weather clothes for warm weather. I have a number of linen dresses that are now too big, but I decided if I throw on a belt, they work just fine. Amusingly, it’s less likely I’ll wear them much this summer. ☹️
I am wearing SJP Lovely which could be in the musk category – one of my favorites- or the celebrity perfumes or, for me Intro-to-Perfume category. Still love it after almost 15 years.
Hope everyone is well. I was just thinking I had limited my purchases to 2 in 2019 and would consider 0-1 in 2020 but reading theses posts gives me perfume lust.